Staff and students at Willyama High School will not return to the school grounds for the start of Term 1 on Thursday, February 8 after mould remediation works were revised. It follows on from the detection of mould in various areas of the school buildings on January 9, developed from moisture due to the severe heat and humidity over the course of the school holidays.
Following laboratory analysis of sampling results received on Monday by an independent occupational hygienist, the mould remediation work will now be more extensive and therefore take longer than originally anticipated.
“Unfortunately, the update we have received today is not one we were hoping for,” Far West Director of Educational Leadership, Peter Macbeth, said.
“We are working on arrangements for face-to-face learning for all Willyama High School students for the start of the school year and will advise the school community of those arrangements as soon as possible.
“I apologise to staff, students, and their families for this inconvenience and uncertainty so close to the start of the school year. All arms of the Department of Education are working as hard as possible to confirm next steps for the school community and get the school back into operational condition.”
From today – Wednesday – qualified and experienced contractors will begin entering the affected areas of the school to undertake further assessments. Workers will be dressed in Personal Protective Equipment, with all necessary precautionary safety measures put in place.
“We will continue to be guided by expert advice to ensure everyone’s health and wellbeing continues to be put first.”
